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• Alzheimer's disease research

FAQ

How does the Alzheimer Society support research?

The Alzheimer Society supports Biomedical and Quality of Life research into all aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Applications for training awards and research grants are invited from across the country as part of an annual competition.

When is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for the 2012 competition was November 21, 2011. Please refer to the ASRP 2012 Application Guidelines for more information on the 2012 competition.

Do you fund research outside of Canada or to non-Canadians?

Grants and awards are intended to support research by trainees and investigators based in a Canadian university or affiliated institution. In the case of Post-Doctoral Fellowships, where the candidate can demonstrate that the same research training is not available in Canada, the geographic requirement will be waived.

What is the total value and number of grants and awards funded each year through the ASRP?

This varies from year to year, depending on how much money the Alzheimer Society can budget for the Research Program. In the 2011 research competition 30 grants and awards were funded in the amount of over $2.8 million.

How do you select and notify the recipients of the program's grants and awards?

A Biomedical Peer Review Panel and a Quality of Life Peer Review Panel, assisted when necessary by external referees, review the applications. The two panels then place them in rank order based on overall scientific merit and relevance to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The results and funding allocations are then reviewed by the Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC) Research Policy Committee, who take into account the pool of funds available in arriving at the final recommendation for funding. The Alzheimer Society of Canada's Board of Directors will review and confirm the recommendations for funding. Applicants are notified by email in April or May, followed by a letter which includes reviewer comments and any budgetary revisions recommended by the review panels.

Do you target specific areas of research?

The Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) does not select specific areas of research for funding; the only stipulation is that the funded project is relevant to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The ASRP has, however, a number of special programs designed to fund research in areas targeted to the special interests of our partners.

What is the amount and duration of your research grant support?

The ASRP, in collaboration with its partners, offers two kinds of research grants - Regular Grants and Young Investigator Grants:

• Regular Grants in the Quality of Life stream are worth up to $60,000 per year, and in the Biomedical stream are worth up to $75,000 per year. Regular Grants are for a maximum of two years.
• Young Investigator (YI) Grants in the Quality of Life stream are worth up to $60,000 per year, and in the Biomedical stream are worth up to $75,000 per year. Young Investigator Grants are for a maximum of three years.

Do you support research trainees?

The ASRP, in partnership with the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN), Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and the Firefly Foundation, offers Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Training Awards:

• Doctoral awards are available to students enrolled in or accepted into a university-based program leading to a PhD degree. Awards are for a maximum of three years. The stipend for a Doctoral award is $20,530 (this amount includes a $500 research allowance).
• Post-Doctoral fellowships are for graduates who have completed their formal training and wish to gain additional research experience. Fellowships are for a maximum of two years. The stipend for a Post-Doctoral award is $40,500 per year for PhDs and $50,000 per year for MDs (this amount includes a $2,500 research allowance).
• Special partnership awards: Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and ASRP Partnership Program Trainee Awards; Research Training Awards Program on Knowledge Translation and Dementia; and, the Firefly Spark Award.

Are there research positions offered within the Society?

The Alzheimer Society of Canada does not conduct in-house research and no research positions are available within the Society.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

For more information on the Alzheimer Society Research Program, contact:
Research Department
Alzheimer Society of Canada
20 Eglinton Ave. W., Suite 1600
Toronto, ON M4R 1K8
Canada
Tel: (416) 847-2968, toll free 1-800-616-8816 ext. 2968
Fax: (416) 322-6656
E-mail: research@alzheimer.ca